Q&A with Joanna Gosling, author of 'Simply Wonderwoman, a survival guide for women with too much to do' - ANSWERS BACK

[RachelMumsnet]

This week we're inviting you to send in questions to Joanna Gosling, author, mother of three and broadcast journalist for 20 years. Joanna currently presents news programmes for the BBC.

Her new book, Simply Wonderwoman has the strap line ' a survival guide for women with too much to do'. It's about 'helping you have the life you want, not the crazy muddled one that's foisted on you once you have children' (sounds familiar ). The book passes on strategies, tips and ideas to help save time, money and effort and includes tips on everything from how to minimise effort spent on cleaning and laundry, how to be empowered through DIY and even how to use jump leads.

For those of you looking for a ponce-tastic Christmas, there's a fab section on Christmas which incorporates making salt dough tree decorations into a stress-free Christmas and there's a really useful christmas countdown (have you booked your panto tickets yet?)

Post your questions to Joanna before the end of Wednesday 19th October and we'll be linking to her answers at the beginning of November. Sending in a question will automatically enter your name into a draw to win one of five copies of Simply Wonderwoman.

[missorinoco]

Ok, further down via the bunting link I have discovered what bunting is, but I still don't get the concept. Why? What purpose does it serve?

[BoffinMum]

Heremeroar, that's what I would call a 'win-win' situation.

Seriously though, buy an old orange Vax on Ebay because you can get the parts forever, the motors are practically indestructible and they attack bodily fluids with a violence worthy of a pressure washer. You can also use them to hoover up after DIY.

[BoffinMum]

I didn't say that included cooking - I meant cleaning, washing, ironing and doing or organising a grocery shop of one kind or another.

[CaptainMartinCrieff]

Is this still going on and on and on... I hope Joanna gets to see my question in all these posts!
I agree with anniemac again... Talks a lot of sense!

[Bonsoir]

BoffinMum - I think it is difficult to decouple "grocery shopping" and "cooking". They are sub-parts of "catering" in my household, which also includes diary management ie how many meals for how many people (and which people, with which tastes) every day - this is not a constant in our household.

[GalloweesG]

Hello Joanna, tell the nest of vipers to run and play, they're just bitter that they didn't think of the idea for the book first.

I love a bit of housewifery and poncetasticness, I also want to know what is the best method for removing the lingering stench of leaky dog bum gland? Ever come across that particular stench? Sort of metallic, rotting fish. I use a spray stain dissolver for biological stains but the smell lurks. In an ideal world I'd keep the dog off the sofa but he thinks it's his rightful place and being two foot tall and four stone in weight he's a bit tricky to move without his agreement

[NameChangeJustForYou]

Difficult one GalloweesG, Joanna's not going to want to come round to your place for an imaginery MNHQ cup of tea unless you offer her the dog-free armchair.

[madwomanintheattic]

'bitter that they didn't think of the idea for the book first' - um, yeah, like the other incalculable numbers of women that have published similar. very unique. i think 'what makes your book unique?' has already been asked though.

i love your hallowe'en namechange by the way. v clever.

[GalloweesG]

Joanna I also notice that your book isn't available for Kindle yet. I have notified Amazon of my displeasure and they have hotlined your publishers to tell them to pull their fingers out.

[sleepevader]

Any Lego storage tips?

[NameChangeJustForYou]

Apologies for the shameful link to my book available on Amazon in the USA. Just trying to be amusing. [hangs head in shame, never happened before]

Joanna, what's your favorite bit of urban engineering?

[FaithfullBorderBinLiner]

As a woman with frankly too little to do, my Zombie plan is pretty advanced. Should the flesh eating nasties attack what are your top ten tips?

[WhollyGhost]

Silly question, but I can't resist asking - why is your book frequently bought together with a dvd about Ayrton Senna?


And a more sensible question - are you meant to weatherproof your home in some way with winter approaching? I have a guilty feeling that I should have been painting or something....

[ssd]

just come back to this thread and seen I had a post deleted by mumsnet, but cant remember what I wrote....ah well

[madwomanintheattic]

none of mine were.

[WhollyGhost]

I have another question - I turned on BBC radio 2 yesterday, to hear Kirstie Allsopp promoting her new book on crafts.

Joanna, will you have similar opportunities to promote your book? And if not, why not?

[HereMeRoar]

WhollyGhost -I'm a bit confused... is that not what this thread is all about? Pre-Christmas book promo by Q&A on MN?

[madwomanintheattic]

i gather she was on R4 or somesuch a week or so ago - think it was mentioned upthread... no need to fret about her pr credentials.

[RachelMumsnet]

..the Q&A has now closed - this has certainly sparked a lot of discussion - and Joanna has been following with interest. We've sent the questions over to her this morning and will be linking to her answers from this thread next week.

[WhollyGhost]

Of course it is. But, as far as I am aware, Mumsnet is not funded by licence payers, which makes a difference.